Monday, April 21, 2008

Twelve hours of daylight

Today’s Reading: John 11:9-10 (NIV)

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

Good morning!

This is the time of year when I like to take early morning walks. The sun rises just a little earlier in the morning, and I can clearly see where I’m walking. In the subdivision where I live, the sidewalks are not very smooth. Years of wear and tear have eroded its once-level pathway, and now the sidewalk sports cracked and raised portions of concrete. If I take a walk in the dark, often times, I will catch the rubber sole of my tennis shoes on the uneven places of the sidewalk and end up tripping. It is an easy thing to do, especially for someone whose middle name is definitely not grace! I look forward to spring mornings, when the sun is up just enough so that I can see where I’m walking at 6am.

Twelve hours of daylight; eight hundred twenty minutes to see clearly where I’m going; forty-nine thousand two hundred seconds to soak up the sunlight! It sounds like a lot of time; yet, if your days are anything like mine, the hours passes quickly. I often find myself wondering where the day disappeared to. Do you ever lose track of time?

Jesus knew that His time was passing quickly. One day soon, He would no longer be a physical presence, walking along the sidewalks next to His disciples. How He wanted them to value the time they had left together in the daylight. The night was coming, when no one would be able to see Him clearly. Jesus knew they would stumble in the absence of His light. Knowledge of God’s will, His plan and purpose is essential to the continued growth of the fellowship of believers. Would there be enough daylight left to help them walk the walk without tripping?

If you find yourself stumbling around in the darkness, there is a little daylight left just for you! Open God’s holy Word today and allow Him to light your path. His Word is the only light we need to walk victoriously along the rough and cracked sidewalks of our lives. Jesus Christ is the One true light.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

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© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

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